First Time Having a Chiropractic Adjustment: What to Expect

Many people don’t take chiropractic treatments because they’re a little unsure what to expect while they’re being treated or after they’ve finished receiving treatment. Actually, maybe you have an expectation of something because you may have heard stories of or imagined the bending and cracking techniques. Of course, you would think it’s painful if you had no significant knowledge of chiropractics. You may be nervous, and that’s quite okay. We can ease your fear of the unknown as we educate you on the way you may feel or the way your body may react when you are given your first chiropractic treatment.

Oh yeah, during your first visit, the chiropractor will ask you questions concerning your “medical history, current condition, pain or symptoms, and if you’ve had any injuries sustained from sports, car accidents, or other physically traumatic events.” He will also give you a thorough examination and he will get spinal X-rays to get a better idea of your spine’s condition so that he will make better judgments about the best chiropractic techniques and treatment for you.

After your treatment, you may feel a sense of relief – patients usually feel much better. They will notice the difference in alignment, the flexibility and the feeling of relaxation. Some patients say they feel kind of tired and sleepy because their bodies want the chance to begin to heal.

In other cases, patients may feel some slight discomfort or a little “crooked,” and this happens because their bodies aren’t used to the new alignment and were so used to the incorrect postures. You may also feel some soreness around the subluxations, because “it’s the area where muscles have been pulling for a long time, so moving them any differently will cause some discomfort.” Also, patients have complained of feeling pain from their old injuries again, and this is because the deep healing has begun. It often happens after in the few hours after the treatment and ends and doesn’t usually last longer than 24 hours.

There are cases where patients don’t actually feel anything and that’s just because their healing is just beginning on the inside. It doesn’t mean that they wasted their time and money on an adjustment that didn’t work – it simply means that their “normal energy flow is newly restored in your body and it may take a few days before you notice a real outward effect.”

Always remember to talk to your chiropractor if you are confused or concerned about what you’re feeling.